Orland Park Resident Pleads Guilty To Gambling Ring Charges: Feds

Orland Park IL

10 March, 2022

4:36 AM

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ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park resident Vincent Del Giudice was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of gambling, conspiracy and money laundering Tuesday, federal authorities said. The 56-year-old was accused of running a gambling ring and laundering the profits through a Costa Rican company. Prosecutors said Del Giudice, also known as "Uncle Mick," directed the illegal bookmaking business in person in Orland Park and then opened a website for more bets overseas at unlcemickssports.com. Court records state Del Giudice operated a team of over 20 agents who would recruit people, often those with gambling addictions, to place illegal wagers on college and professional sporting events. Agents included a former Chicago police officer and Casey Urlacher, the brother of famous linebacker Brian Urlacher. In a statement Wednesday, Del Giudice apologized to those he victimized with the bookmaking ring, which at its height generated almost $161 million in a year. "I understand what I did was wrong and I affected many people with my poor decisions," he said in court. "I would like nothing more than to start the process of making things right for my family, my friends and the community." In addition to prison time, Del Giudice is required to pay back $3.6 million in cash, jewelry, gold and other assets agents found when they raided his home in 2019.